Health And Nutritional Benefits of Hot Peppers

For many spicy food lovers, the biggest benefit of hot peppers is their lip smacking taste.

But flavour and heat aside, hot peppers have a lot more to add to your meal. In the video above by Everwell, we discover that chili peppers are a rich source of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which, when ingested, is converted into vitamin A. Chili peppers are also high in iron, potassium, copper and magnesium.

And despite the common misconception that hot peppers can inflame the bowels and cause ulcers, researchers from the University of California in San Diego say capsaicin found in chili peppers can actually reduce the risk of colorectal tumors.

Capsaicin, a substance which gives peppers their heat and triggers pain receptors on the tongue, has been linked to numerous health benefits, from arthritis pain relief to reducing psoriasis inflammation to suppressing appetites, ABC News reports.

But if hot peppers give you heartburn, you might want to avoid it, or at least look for ways to tame the heat so you can still reap the benefits. To do so, all you need to do is put on a pair of gloves and cut out the seeds and white coloured membranes which hold the majority of the fiery capsaicin. You'll be cutting away most of the good stuff, but at least you'll still get your fill of vitamins.

For delicious ways to use spicy hot peppers in everyday meals check out the slideshow below.